President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo introduces his new cabinet on the steps of the State Palace on Wednesday. (B1 Photo/Joanito de Saojoao)

Jokowi's New Cabinet Includes Rival Prabowo as Defense Minister

BY :CARLOS K.Y. PAATH, HERU ANDRIYANTO

OCTOBER 23, 2019

Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo sat on the steps of the State Palace with the members of his new cabinet as he introduced them one by one to reporters under Jakarta's blazing sunlight on Wednesday morning. Among Jokowi's new ministers is his rival in the 2014 and 2019 presidential elections, Prabowo Subianto, now Indonesia's new defense minister.

Jokowi provided a brief job description for every minister he introduced, but when Prabowo's turn came the president kept quiet in a gesture of respect.

"I don't think I need to tell him what his job entails. He knows it better than me," Jokowi said, as Prabowo stood and replied with a military salute.

It has been decades since the former Army general had a chance to serve his country, after an ethical tribunal forced him to leave the military in 1998 only months after New Order dictator Soeharto – Prabowo's former father-in-law – resigned from office.

The first man Jokowi introduced was the new coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Muhammad Mahfud MD, who missed a last-minute chance to become the president's running mate early this year.

Mahfud takes over the job from another former Army general, Wiranto, who is still undergoing medical treatment after a brazen stabbing attack by an Islamic militant in Pandeglang, Banten, on Oct. 10.

"My instructions for the new cabinet members are, first, never commit corruption. Create a system that closes the door to corruption," Jokowi said.

"Second, there is no such thing as a minister's vision and mission, there's only the vision and mission of the president and the vice-president," he said.

The president also ordered the new cabinet members to work hard, avoid the monotony of routines, be result-oriented and quickly find a solution for every problem.

Jokowi also warned that he would not hesitate to dismiss ministers who "are not serious and dedicated to their job."

The new cabinet comprises 34 ministers, the head of the presidential staff, the head of the Investment Coordinating Board, the attorney general and the cabinet secretary.

The national police chief post, vacated by General Tito Karnavian who has now become the home affairs minister, has not been filled pending consultations with the House of Representatives.